To view all the photos taken, please click

A leisurely afternoon paddle at one of the west coast’s premier sanctuaries for migrating birds.Located just north of the Skyway bridge,the preserve consists of a 180 acre white sand, duned barrier island and interior mangrove islands.  Don Kirkley led 12 of us out to Shell Key Sunday. The weather was absolutely wonderful-high 70's, slight breeze, sunny cloudless skies. That's why we are in Florida. The tide didn't cooperate though-many sections were pretty shallow and at one point some of us had to get out of their kayaks and pull them along-which was only in one spot.

We made 2 different landings on the key. For lunch Howard shared his banana peel with a seagull. On a sandbar just off the key we saw a whole flock of white pelicans, such large birds-they are really beautiful. We paddled off and on for about 2 1/2 hours and a distance of about 5 1/2 miles.

A great paddle which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Photos courtesy of Sue Bunge and Howard Goldrich

Description, courtesy of Sue Bunge